Lobster abstract

A prod or teaser or tickle stick used by a diver to urge a lobster
from a hole includes an elongate, small diameter distal end for
probing in the holes. The proximal, or handle end, includes a portion
with a density less than that of sea water. The overall density
is greater than that of sea water. When the device is dropped, it
will fall to the bottom and not drift off. The handle end will be
upright, off the bottom. It can be easily seen above the bottom
growth and retrieved. Along the side of the device is a gauge including
a recess for receiving the carapace of a lobster that is not of
legal size. This takes the place of a separate gauge and is safer
and easier to use while also holding the lobster in a net.

Lobster claims

I claim:

1. A lobster fishing and measuring device comprising:

(A) an elongate, small-cross section rod member having a long axis,
a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end adapted for insertion
into a hole to urge a lobster therefrom, said distal end having
a density greater than sea water;

(B) a handle portion attached to said proximal end, said handle
portion having a density less than that of sea water;

(C) a gauge for measuring a part of said lobster's anatomy, said
gauge defining an elongate recess extending along said long axis,
said recess having a length corresponding to a fixed, regulation
size limit of said part and

(D) said device having an overall density greater than that of
sea water, wherein the device will fall to the bottom when released
and will rest with the handle end upstanding for enhanced retrieval.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising an attached
wrist strap or cord.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said gauge is formed
by a pair of spaced apart projections extending radially outward
from said rod member.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said projections extend
outwardly from one side of said rod member.

5. The device according to claim 3 in which said projections are
annular.

6. The device according to claim 1 in which said gauge is formed
by a plurality of pairs of spaced apart projections extending radially
outward therefrom.

7. The device according to claim 1 in which said rod member has
a non circular cross section for enhanced rigidity.

8. The device according to claim 7 in which said section is formed
by intersecting arms, and said recess is formed in at least one
of said arms.

9. A lobster fishing and measuring device comprising:

an elongate, small-cross section rod member having a long axis,
a proximal end and an unobstructed distal end, said distal end adapted
for insertion into a hole to urge a lobster therefrom; and

a gauge affixed to said proximal end for measuring a part of said
lobster's anatomy, said gauge defining an elongate recess extending
along said long axis, said recess having a length corresponding
to a fixed regulation size limit of said part, said long axis exceeding
the length of said recess by a factor of at least two.

10. The device according to claim 9 further comprising an attached
wrist strap or cord.

11. The device according to claim 9 in which said gauge is formed
by a pair of spaced apart projections extending radially outward
from said rod member.

12. The device according to claim 11 in which said projections
extend outwardly from one side of said rod member.

13. The device according to claim 11 in which said projections
are annular.

14. The device according to claim 9 in which said gauge is formed
by a plurality of pairs of spaced apart projections extending radially
outward therefrom.

15. The device according to claim 9 in which said rod member has
a non circular transverse section for enhanced rigidity.

16. The device according to claim 15 in which said section is
formed by intersecting arms, and said recess is formed in at least
one of said arms.

Lobster description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to divers' lobster fishing apparatus and
more particularly to a tickle stick for urging lobsters from their
holes in combination with a gauge for determining if the lobster
is of legal size.

Sport fishing for lobsters by divers is closely regulated by the
government. Divers may not hook, spear or kill a lobster in the
water. This is so that undersized lobsters may be released without
harm. Lobsters must be measured and released in the water. Taking
a lobster out of the water before measuring is an act punishable
by a considerable fine.

Spiney lobsters spend most of their time when not feeding backed
into holes and recesses in the rocks. They are safe from predators
because only their spiney antennae and their eyes on stalks protrude.
If a diver grasps the antennae and tries to pull the lobster out
of the hole, it bends its tail to wedge its body in the hole. The
antennae will generally break off without pulling the lobster out.
It is permitted to prod or urge the lobster out of its hole by the
use of a non-injurious stick, commonly called a tickle stick. Some
people think the lobster moves out because it feels it is being
challenged by another lobster invading its territory. When it moves
out of its hole, the diver quickly scoops it up in a hand held net.

The diver must then measure the size of the violently moving lobster
while keeping it in the net. In Florida, the rigid forward body,
or carapace, must measure at least three inches in length. If it
is less, the lobster must be released, unharmed, while underwater.
A separate gauge is used for this measurement.

With only two hands and a spiney, erratically moving, lobster in
a net trying to escape through the large net opening, it is difficult
to hold the stick, hold the net closed, and position the gauge correctly
without getting cut by the spines or losing the lobster. One often
drops either the gauge or the stick during the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a lobster
gauge that is easier to carry and use without injury. The lobster
prod of the invention has all of the attributes of the conventional
tickle sticks. In addition, it is combined with a gauge for determining
if the catch is legal. The gauge, being combined with the long prod,
may be remote from the hand holding it, so that when it is held
against the shell, the hand will escape injury. The prod of the
invention has an overall density greater than ocean water so that
it will not float away in a current when released. The prod has
an end portion with a density less than ocean water so that when
released it will sink to the bottom with one end up. One of the
problems with prior art prods is that they lay flat on the bottom
when released. Because the habitat generally has a heavy bottom
growth, a dropped prod is often hard to recover. With the prod of
the invention, one end will be floating well above bottom where
it is easily seen and grasped.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent when the detailed description is studied
in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stick of the invention with
stick removed from handle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the invention shown in side elevation.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the invention shown in side elevation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, like parts are given the same reference numeral.

Referring now first to FIG. 1 a small diameter, about 3/8 inch,
rod 1 preferably about four feet in length, is fixed into the cylindrical
hole 2 in handle 3. The rod has a density greater than sea water
and the handle has a density less than sea water, with the overall
density being greater than sea water. This enables the device to
drop to the bottom with the handle pointing up four feet above the
bottom where it is more readily seen and recovered. Prior art devices
lie down on the bottom where they are obscured by bottom growth,
or float away in the current. The handle may be hollow or formed
of a low density material such as wood or foamed plastic. A looped
cord or lanyard 14 may be provided for securing to the wrist to
leave both hands free when required. The lobster gauge 5 is molded
into the handle. It takes the form of a plurality of distal projections
4 and proximal projections 6 spaced apart to provide a gap 7 that
is at least three inches long. The gauge is held against the lobster
carapace. If the carapace fits within the gap, it must be released.
Generally the gap is made slightly greater than three inches to
allow for some error in measurement. The proximal end of the handle
8 may be spaced apart from the distal projection a distance corresponding
to another legality measurement, such as the tail length of five
and one-half inches shown here for example at A. There may be only
one set of projections, or as many as the four sets shown here.
The measuring gap extends substantially parallel to the long axis
of the rod.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the low density handle 3 may take the
form of a cylinder with a cylindrical recess 7 comprised of a smaller
diameter cylinder portion 9 intermediate one larger diameter cylinder
portion 4 and a rectangular portion 6 to thereby provide the gap
7 for measurement of the carapace therein.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the teaser
or tickle stick has an elongate rod 1 which has a cruciate small
cross section 10 to provide rigidity with less weight and cost.
A recess 7 in one arm is provided for the measurement. The arrangement
has the advantage that there are no projections that can catch in
the net during the hectic measurement process. A hollow or foam
ball 11 is provided at the handle 3 to float and prevent the stick
from slipping from the grasp.

Referring now to FIG. 5 the distal projection and the proximal
projection are provided by annular washer-like members 46 permanently
fixed to the rod 1 these encircle the rod forming the recess 7
therebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 6 the proximal projection 6 and the distal
projection 4 are attached to the rod and extend out from the rod
1 at only one side, and they are sloped away from the gap so as
to reduce the chances of catching in the net.

A gap or recess is preferred for use as a gauge since it may be
applied by touch. Simple markings that must be used visually are
less desirable because visibility is often poor and the animal is
moving erratically.

The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features
which should preferably be employed in combination although each
is useful separately without departure from the scope of the invention.
While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my
invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied
otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described,
and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and
the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within
the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope
of the appended claims.